After ensuring construction of sufficient number of toilets in rural belts, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation is putting efforts from all fronts to maintain Open Defecation Free (ODF) sustainability in all such districts that have achieved the ODF status.
Through engaging ample workforce and utilizing Information Education Communication (IEC) techniques, different awareness campaigns are being conducted to instill the basic practices of sanitation among the rural folks ensuring behavioral change.
“Through different IEC medium and technical support of UNICEF, the Department is creating awareness. Merely constructing toilets is not our motive; behavioral change along with ensuring proper use of toilets is the main purpose. All the senior officials from districts which have attained ODF tag are invited to discuss challenges, constraints ahead in changing the mindsets,” said Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Aradhana Patnaik during a State-level workshop on ODF sustainability here on Tuesday.
During a daylong workshop, emphasis was on conducting regular activities like ‘Swacchta Sabhas’, awareness campaigns in government schools through ‘Swaccta Diwas’ keeping the larger prospective-- ‘Swacch Jharkhand Swasatha Jharkhand’.
“Maintaining cleanliness after constructing toilets in all villages through proper implementation of solid waste management, water supply is a few domains that will aid in sustaining the ODF status. ODF sustainability is the important for making this ambitious project, a success,” Patnaik added.
Through ‘Swacchta Sankalp’ initiative, the Department under ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan- Gramin’ (SBA-G) has successfully constructed 2.23 lakh toilets in rural areas. Taking into account, the success of ‘Swacchta Sankalp’ which recently received Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi appreciation has been extended for a month. Till February 25, over 2.16 lakh Individual Household latrine (IHHl) have been constructed across the State.
The ‘Swacch Sankalp’ primarily focuses on multi-stakeholders engagement policy with prime focus on self construction and engagement of women in the drive. Since October 2014, nearly 47.80 per cent increase is seen in houses having toilets by far. Around 8.74 lakh photographs have been uploaded on the websites in the financial year 2017-18 showcasing encouraging response of public in constructing toilets in the rural areas.
The convergence platform which includes Gram Sabhas, Child Cabinet, School Management Committees (SMCs), Self-Help Groups etc, the Base line Survey (BlS) report suggests 70.82 percent coverage, persuading the stakeholders now to start brainstorming on different features beyond just constructing the toilets.
